Delivery bike



March 17, 1936. H, STOFFEL DELIVERY BIKE Filed July 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. STOFFEL DELIVERY BIKE March 17, 1936.

Filed July 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE DELIVERY BIKE Henry Stoifel, Wichita, Kans.

Application July 30, 1935, Serial No. 33,880 4 Claims; (01'. 2so -'-92)' This invention relates to tricycle construction, and aims to provide a tricycle especially designed for use by mechanics such as plumbers, repairmen or deliverymen, the primary object of the invention being to provide a tricycle which may be easily operated when loaded.

An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the front or steering wheel of the tricycle will tilt laterallyin making a turn,

thereby facilitating the steering of the tricycle under a heavy load.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being -understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tricycle constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the head of the tricycle frame.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

' Referring to the drawings in detail, the tricycle frame is indicated generally by the reference character 5, the frame embodying the rear fork 6 which is inclined, providing a support for the box I in which tools or other articles may be conveniently carried.

The front portion of the frame is indicated by the reference character 8 and embodies a circular portion 9, upwardly inclined members It that have their upper ends extended into the hollow cone-shaped bearing member H such a way that 45 the cone-shaped bearing member ll may move over the members l0. These members l0, circular portion 9 and bearing member ll, constitute the head of the tricycle.

The reference character l2 designates the front 5 fork of the tricycle in which the front wheel I3 is mounted, the lower ends of the bars of the front fork l2 being curved rearwardly as shown by Figure 1 of the drawings. Extending from the front fork l2 of the tricycle, is a shaft l4, which 55 shaft extends through the head of the tricycle and 'is provided with a reduced portion l5, to which the handle bars I6 are secured.

Secured to the shaft I4, is a bearing member 11 on which ball bearings 18 rest, the ball bearings being fitted under the bearing member ll,

Directly under the bearing member l, is a disk H), which is secured to the shaft I4 by means of the set screw 26 that passes through the collar 2| secured to the disk. A link-22 connects the disk 19 to the circular portion 9 of the head. 10 Thus it will be seen that when the front wheel I3 fih tricycle s-tura di ui in the i le the front forks will tilt laterally causing the 'tricycle to be guided with the minimum amount of exertion on the part of the operator. 15

Should it be desired to eliminate this tilting movement of the front Wheel when the tricycle is moving over rough road surfaces, the pin 23 is passed through an opening in the disk, and into an opening of the bar 24, secured to the member 20 9. This of course will hold the front fork in a vertical position at all times. The set screw 20 will now be loosened, so that the shaft l4 may pivot with respect to the disk.

The rear axle of the tricycle is indicated by the 5 reference character 24 and is supplied with a pulley 25 over which the belt 26 operates, the belt 26 also operating over the pulley 21 mounted on the motor shaft of the motor 28. In order that the belt 26 will be held taut at all times, an 30 idle pulley 29 is provided, and mounted on the arm 30 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 3|, the arm being movable with the shaft on which it is mounted.

The shaft, on which the arm 3|] is mounted, is 5 indicated by the reference character 32, and also provides a support for the member 33 to which the rod 34 is connected, the rod 34 having connection with the rod 35 that leads to the pedal 36, and by means of which the rods and shaft 40 are operated.

Connected with the member 33 is a rod 31 that passes through an opening in one end of the brake 38, which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 39. Forming a part of the member 33, is an arm 40 which is formed with an opening through which the pivoted rod 4| extends, the rod 4i being secured to the frame of the tricycle at 42. A coiled spring indicated by the reference character 43 is mounted on the rod 4| and bears against the arm 40, and is provided with an adjusting nut 44 for tensioning the spring 43 to regulate the operation thereof.

Thus it will be seen that when the brake pedal is operated to apply the brake 38, which cooperates with the brake drum I carried on the rear axle of the tricycle, the pulley 29 is moved away from the belt 26, allowing the belt to slip, thereby disconnecting the motor and rear axle of the tricycle.

A sprocket designated by the reference character M is mounted on the rear axle and receives motion from the sprocket 42 operated by the pedals 43, through the chain 44. The rear axle may be-rotated by means of pedals, to start the motor 28. From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I

have provided a tricycle having a box or body;-

portion supported thereon in such a way that tools or other materials may be conveniently carried therein. a

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a tricycle, a frame including a rear fork and a front fork, the front end of the frame being extended upwardly, a cone-shaped bearing fitted over the upwardly extended portion of the frame and connected to the front fork, pivotally connecting the upper end of the fork to the frame, and means for pivotally connecting the fork to the frame, at a point in spaced relation with the cone-shaped bearing member.

2. In a tricycle, a frame including a rear fork and a front fork, a hollow cone-shaped bearing member secured to the upper end of the front fork, said hollow cone-shaped bearing member being fitted over the frame pivotally connecting the upper end of the fork to the frame, means for pivotally connecting the front fork to the frame at a point in spaced relation with the cone-shaped bearing member whereby the fork may tilt laterally, and supporting wheels mounted within the forks.

3. In a tricycle, a frame including a rear fork and a front fork, said frame also including a forward circular member, said front fork extending through the circular member, a bar at the upper end of thhe front fork, pivotally conmeeting the upper end of the front fork to the frame, a member pivotally connecting the front fork to the circular member at a point in spaced relation with the upper end of the fork, said member including a disk secured to the fork, and a linkconnecting the disk to the circular member whereby the front fork may tilt laterally and wheels mounted within the forks.

4. Ina tricycle, a frame including a rear fork and a front fork, said frame embodying a forward circular member through which the front fork extends in spaced relation therewith, a bearing member at the upper end of the fork pivotally connecting the fork to the frame, means for connecting the fork to the circular member at a point in spaced relation with the upper end of the fork whereby the front fork is held in a vertical position, and wheels mounted within the forks.

HENRY STOFFEL. 

